ATIENZA CALLS ON LAND PERSONNEL TO WORK FOR THE MASSES | September 16, 2009

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza calls on men and women of the Land Management Bureau (LMB) in Manila on their 108th founding anniversary to continue to work and serve the public with honesty and integrity in sync with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s commitment in promoting social equity, especially in land distribution. Stressing that “good and effective governance is what the country needs now,” Atienza urged the LMB and all other agencies of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to work together and “to use their power under the law in ensuring that the people, particularly the masses, benefit from the wealth of the country, be it in land, water, air, forest and seas.”

During the 108th anniversary of the Land Management Bureau, I called on all LMB employees to to work and serve the public with honesty and integrity, in sync with the administration’s commitment in promoting social equity, especially in land distribution.

I reiterated the need for good and effective governance as a driving force for all civil servants. Land management personnel should work with all other agencies of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in using their power under the law in ensuring that the people, particularly the masses, benefit from the wealth of the country, be it in land, water, air, forest and seas.

First created under the Public Land Act of 1901 (Act 108), the Land Management Bureau is tasked to oversee the land titling of the country’s alienable and disposable lands.

Land disposition in the country, however has been a source of corruption for years resulting in the proliferation of fake and fraudulent land titles, to the prejudice of ordinary Filipinos who depend on land for their livelihood.

Citing cases of extortion and other forms of corruption that were brought to his attention, I again urged the LMB people to rise above the challenges of fighting corruption and to work and serve the public with honesty and integrity.

I stressed the need for clean and good leaders who will lead by example, saying that corruption is a shadow that continuously hounds not only the LMB but all other government agencies and private institutions, which hampers both political and economic stability.

I likewise called on the people for unity to effect change in the system. We need sacrifices and genuine concern both from our leaders and from our people. A leader can only do so much. Without unity and the support from the people, any effort to effect change in the system will fail.

Former Manila Assemblyman, General Manager of the National Housing Authority, Manila Vice-Mayor for 6 years, Mayor of Manila for 9 years, and Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources